ILM's 2024 End of Year Tracks & Albums Poll / VOTING & CAMPAIGNING THREAD

It's time to vote! Here's the link: https://forms.gle/pgCbaWuSfCSUgsbr7

Voting ends at MIDNIGHT PST on Friday, January 24th, 2025.

The procedure is simple: enter your tracks and album ballots (up to 25 items on each), one item per line, in the appropriate fields below. Please copy each line directly from the nominations list; do not number your ballot.

You can choose one of three ballot types, which determine how points are allocated to each item you vote for:

(1) Weighted: The first item on your ballot receives 50 points, the second receives 48 points, and so on, until the 25th item receives 2 points.

(2) Unweighted: Each item on your ballot receives 26 points.

(3) Mixed: To submit a mixed ballot, you must divide your ballot in two with an extra blank line. The upper portion of the ballot will be treated as weighted, with the first item receiving 50 points, and so on. The lower portion will be treated as unweighted, in that all items will receive the same number of points. The score allocated to items in the unweighted portion is calculated as 26 minus the number of items in the weighted portion (this is so that any weighted, unweighted or mixed ballot consisting of 25 items will allocate a total of exactly 650 points).

NOMINATIONS

Track Nominations
Album Nominations

PLAYLISTS

Tracks on Spotify
Albums on Spotify

This thread is also for campaigning - convince/cajole/threaten the ILM community to check out your favourites. Just keep it easy on the Youtube embeds so the thread stays loadable, if you're posting more than one track please link instead.

thanks seandalai!

Wheeee! As I said on the other thread, I feel like I haven't listened to much this year, so am open to some lobbying to fill up any potential space in my ballot (paging imago, NickB - you guys in particular will probs have some cool stuff I might be interested in).

Thanks seandalai and tipsy for the playlists! I’m still going thru the playlist… I’ll maybe campaign for one of my own noms but I think I like to campaign for songs I didn’t nom better… so, i’ll be back.

I nominated this, but it isn't on Spotify (in the UK anyway) or Youtube, so I'll post a link to it here -

https://www.boomplay.com/songs/147143140

(it was on spotify at one point because that's where I heard it, though I don't remember how I came across it - it's pretty though)

sorry, I forgot the name - the track is called 'Early Riser', it's by Astral Unity

stuff I wrote about stuff I liked

EGG PUNK ETC:
Media Puzzle - Strategic Living EP (smart, hilarious, frequently obscene, catchy af egg punk from Australia, prob my fave of the year, they just put this out as a vinyl LP along with their equally great EP from late last year on the B-side)

The Gobs - S/T 2024 EP
This is on Bandcamp like all their stuff and it totally rules, they sound like a jet engine, the punk equivalent of High Rise but also insanely catchy, don’t sleep on the great lyrics (mostly unintelligible w/o a physical lyric sheet hint hint). This band used to be based in Olympia WA but I think they relocated to Portland OR? I am obsessed. You can also see them live on Youtube.

Various - Palestine Solidarity Compilation Volumes 1 & 2 tapes (or Bandcamp downloads with proof of donation)
These bookended my year and turned me on to a lot of these great new bands, essential compilations with something for everyone.

Busted Head Racket - Go! Go! Go! Go! EP
Another catchy bit of Australian egg punk madness.

Gee Tee - Prehistoric Chrome LP
OK this is a collection of demos and outtakes but still fantastic, they also put on the best live show I saw all year (some of which is on Youtube courtesy of my buddy Ed Cole). From Australia, again, duh.

Dru The Drifter - The Squirrel Hunter/The Thriller/The Moon Walker LPs
All three of these short 2024 albums have some great tracks, really snotty snarly pissed off punk with a pop sensibility and the occasional acoustic guitar track. I’ve seen Jay Reatard comparisons which totally make sense to me. He already has another new one coming on Jan 1st!

honorable mentions go to Billiam, Rude Television, Todd Briefly/Beige Banquet, Drunk Mums, JJ And The A’s, Judy & The Jerks, Itchy & The Nits, Bootlicker, Goblin Daycare, NTSC PAL, Snooper, Ismatic Guru, HÄGÖL, Prison Affair, 1-800-MIKEY, Power Pants, Titanium Expose, etc.

“ROCK BANDS” for lack of a better term:
Znous - 4
Tunisian band doing grungy metal weirdness, I rarely dip into metal at all but this is impressive. On Bandcamp of course.

Shellac - To All Trains
RIP you prickly dude, thanks for all the production jobs and the awesome live show memories going back to 1987. Lots of eerily prescient death references on this one, and the sound is (as usual) the platonic ideal of a rock trio.

X - Smoke And Fiction
How does this band do it? It’s so weird to have one of my high school favorites make not one but two great new albums 40+ years after their first blazing successes. More power to them, the vocal blend is still perfect. The sound is a bit too ultramoderncompressed for my ears, but the skill and care at hand is undeniable.

Dirty Three - Love Changes Everything
One of the world’s best instrumental trios finally makes a new album, this one is WAY more abstract and improv-oriented than the previous two (from 2005 and 2012 respectively, they take their time). Violin, guitar, drums, just let it wash over you.

Kim Gordon - The Collective
This is the record I have wanted her to make ever since Sonic Youth broke up. I think this is the best expression of her deadpan irony so far, I could never get into the Body/Head albums even though I wanted to. Relentlessly modern and compression-crushed, but she uses that sound to serve her vision.

honorable mentions: the “Cardinals At The Window” benefit compilation for the North Carolina floods (available on Bandcamp, link in comments), Jim White’s solo album (see Dirty Three above, he is my hero and my favorite living drummer).

EXPERIMENTAL/INDUSTRIAL/JAZZ/AMBIENT/UNCLASSIFIABLE:
Legendary Pink Dots - Chemical Playschool Volumes 23 & 24
I have loved this band since 1986 and was deeply skeptical of the Silverman retiring, along with Edward Ka-Spel I viewed him as the founder/core duo of the original band which I think is still true (although I have since learned that the early tape Apparition was done without Phil/Silverman, which I admit does put things into perspective a bit as I love that one too). I saw them live a couple years back with the “new guy” (Randall Frazier from Orbit Service) on keyboards and was even more skeptical/unimpressed. I thought my long love affair with the band might have come to an end. BUT NO. This new installment of my favorite long-running Dots project (all the Chemical Playschool volumes are worth your time) is a big step forward into sharp focus, the trio of Ka-Spel/Drost/Frazier plus guest musicians are really locked in and the band gives Edward the balance and tension that has always made the LPD’s work distinct from Ka-Spel’s innumerable solo records. Now I’m excited for the new album that’s coming in January.

Rafael Toral - Spectral Evolution
I still don’t think this is “better” than his older classics like Wave Field or Aeriola Frequency, but it’s definitely a step forward in terms of the complexity and variation of the sounds, still primarily coming from electric guitar but even more mutated than before.

Baldruin - Mosaike der Imagination
More bewitching deep German forest sounds from this guy, somewhere in that unclassifiable ambient-adjacent realm.

Merope - Vėjula
See above, the stroom.tv label that released this has ties with Baldruin and their friends, this features Laraaji among others and again is in that sweet almost-ambient spot. Tons of great stuff on this label, I barely scratched the surface this year.

Jim Wallis - Discreet Music
A lovely steel-guitar based treatment of the Eno classic, both reverent and imaginative.

Saagara - 3
More great unclassifiable music from Wacław Zimpel collaborating with musicians from India, available on Bandcamp.

Aphex Twin - Music From The Merch Desk (2016 - 2023)
I am a big Syro fan and this fills in a lot of gaps between that album and now, probably for fans only but there’s a lot of variation and creativity on display here.

Andrew Chalk - Songs Of The Sea
A welcome return to more long-form abstract work, this guy has an extensive back catalog of unclassifiable yet soothing homemade music.

honorable mentions: Michal Banabila (really the whole Music From Memory label, see Bandcamp), that gigantic weird Nicolas Jaar collection “Archivos de Radio Piedras”, Chris Irregardless, Laurie Anderson’s “Amelia”, Amy Denio’s “Varianti”, and Six Organs Of Admittance.

REISSUES:
John Balance - The Art & Writing Of John Balance 7LP box set
What can anyone even say about this lavish/insane box, the definitive document of the era leading up to the formation of Coil out of the splintering of TG and then PTV. The Stabmental zine reviews were the coolest things to read, the dude had good taste and cared about his writing. This was reasonably priced as a pre-order but is now an $800+ collector item, to the dismay of many fans.

Bernard Parmegiani - Early and Rarities
This year has seen a flood of Bandcamp digital reissues from him, this is probably for fans only but I like the overview aspect. Adventurous musique concret.

Terminal Intensity - Tentatively Terminal tape/download
How the hell is this still not on Discogs (edit: it is now!)? For everyone (like me) who thought Billy Nightshade (RIP) was cool as fuck and the “coolest” member of The Gizmos, no shade on Dale or Shadow or Kenny or Ted or the other guys. Turns out that Billy and his brother had a crazy pre-punk basement group going before he joined up with The Gizmos, the tunes are primo sludge reminiscent of Rocket From The Tombs. A very cool piece of the Gizmos puzzle, unearthed at last.

honorable mentions: Soundtracks & Head - Daga Daga Daga (for all Swell Maps fans), the two volumes of Broadcast demos that came out this year.

It's unlikely to crack the Top 77 but this beautiful acoustic mantra from Brazil deserves some votes

Alvaro Lancellotti Ft. Mateus Aleluia - A Calma

there's only 2 things i really want to campaign hard for:

.1 the non-platform kendrick lamar tracks from 2024, namely "let the party die" which is probably the most prescient thing to come out of the beef with drake.

.2 "clouds" by temani hill. i nommed it so it’s in the tracks playlist. it's r+b/neosoul.

i'll be back for thoughts and further banter later, but i've been shuffling the tracks playlist the past week and have already found a ton of new to me jams, several of which i'm voting for.

I think the tracks playlist is up to date on the nominees, minus the handful not on Spotify. At 918 songs, it just tops last year's playlist of 907 nominees — but it is also about three hours shorter. Average song length of this year's nominees is 4 minutes 14 seconds, down from 4 minutes 29 seconds last year. Lot of short pop and hip-hop, the TikTok effect I guess.

(though tbh there may be a couple of double entries on there, so don't rely on my sabrmetrics)

An album I nominated and want to campaign for is Spill Gold's Zaza, a record that really dug its claws in me over the course of the year. SG are a Dutch synths-and-live drums duo who play intricate and inventive Krautrock-ish pop with eco-conscious lyrics. Anyone into the Stroom / Knekelhuis axis of leftfield pop would enjoy this (their previous record, Highway Hypnosis, came out on Knekelhuis, also v much recommended) - also reminds me of Automatic and even The Knife at points. It's also a short album (barely over half an hour) so if you listen to it and don't like it you won't have wasted very much time. Here's a link to the title track:

Spill Gold - Zaza

I missed the nominations window, but thank you to whoever nommed "Proclivities" by LL Cool J, which was my favorite "wait he didn't just say what i think he did, did he?" moment of the year.
He also manages to make the word Piscataway sound cool.

That was me I think. I mostly just like the spacey synth track, but the whole album is a banger

"Try to come off like you're soft and well-spoken
Jack off to lyrics by Leonard Cohen"

I do find it funny that I'm campaigning for one of the biggest albums of the year but there hasn't been a lot of talk about this album on this board. Short n' Sweet is by far my most played album of this year and so here we are. This album is so additive and it's the bass that gets me every single time. It's really, really hard for me to pick a favorite song as it seems to be coming down to "Taste" or "Please Please Please." But then there is also "Juno" which seems to be the biggest of the songs outside of the song on the EOY lists and then again "Bad Chem" is the song on the radio all the time these days.

It's a really good album!

A few albums I want to campaign for:

Vejula - Merope: Didn't nom them which is awesome. Hope this places! To me it's the sound of walking through a beautiful garden in the early summer after it's just rained. This music "shimmers", as if looking at bedewed flowers and vines in the sun. Love it

Ex-easter Island Head - Norther: Fun use of acoustic textures and instruments arranged in what would normally be a very Berlin-esque experimental/ambient techno record. A couple songs utilize percussion really well and the rest sit in this experimental electro-acoustic/texture hybrid space that reminds me of artists like Rrose, but with strings.

Lars Bartkuhn - Nomad: This feels like a lovely tonal mashup of Scandinavian space disco and psych tinged Balearic exotica. Lindstrom meets Seahawks put through a low pass filter? I only just found this and I'm in love. Fantastic summer record I totally missed out on until winter lol

Jichael Mackson - Wait for It: Really pretty and textured beats that just creates a fully immersive atmosphere. Past records that this reminds me of are SW.'s debut LP, the slower parts of Skee Mask's Compro, and Pretty Sneaky's self titled full length. Ignore the annoying 2010s style gimmick name. Legit awesomeness here.

Jónsi - First Flight: This caught me by surprise and I feel has been overlooked by many. This is an entirely instrumental (non-lyrical at least) record by the Sigur Ros lead singer and it is immensely beautiful and pretty triumphant sounding. The focus here are the string arrangements and piano. Vocals are few and mixed more in the background as a compliment to the strings.

These are all of a "type" so to speak, all instrumental, downtempo, softer sound records that sit in between electronic and acoustic palates. So you're probably going to love/meh all of them I imagine.

I just saw The Jesus and Mary Chain in November and feel bad they aren't going to be represented in either albums or tracks. I should have thrown them a bone.

xxp Merope is the artist name! I nommed it and mentioned it above, let the record show this is the first album to get two mentions itt

and wow nobody nommed JMC? dang, I would have

voted :)

Let's go

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UTD6VlYSPI
Angelica Garcia - Paloma

Spanish art pop so high it lives on a whole other plane. The album is good but I'm also voting for this track - the closer. Nominated by seandalai.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0S8nFEgG1eY
Vanishing Twin - Life Drummer

Discovered on the playlist. Streamlined, very efficient rendering of early percussive post-punk, groovy, with a haunting church organ. Nominated by donna rouge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObhUaQWsjfw
Dlala Thukzin, Funky Qla & Zee Nxumalo - Ama Gear

The hammering rhythms of Durban, the jazzy flourishes of Johannesburg, a song both delicate and sea-rolling, Zee one of those surprisingly personal and charismatic voices. Nominated by yours truly.

Similar to emil I'm quite behind this year, but that also means more time spent on the ILM playlist.

My favourite track was Bezodnya by Ariadna (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3OeWphHyDA). Dramatic Ukrainian witchhouse synth-pop.

D. Silvestre’s self-titled album was the most exciting Brazilian funk record I’ve heard in years. idk who else can make a club go crazy with a kick-less track that sounds like a jackhammer setting off a street full of car alarms (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plM5Amyl0CA)

Apologies - weren’t supposed to embed!

ShariVari's nominations have been a joy to hear going through the playlist. SHADES ON is another ultrabanger

i mostly just want to advocate for hakushi hasegawa's glitch-pop opus mah​ō​gakkō. the most thrilling sound design i've heard all year

fans of low's double negative really should listen to the nin/low collaboration "vaster than empires" which has burton and sparhawk recreating the double negative sound for reznor & ross

whoa I'll have to check that out, anything on Brainfeeder is worth a gander. Would never have stumbled on Little Snake otherwise, for example.

Ex-easter Island Head - Norther... A couple songs utilize percussion really well...

― octobeard

Have you seen them live? The mallet guitars stuff is basically transcendent rave. So good.

ShariVari's noms definitely sound very up my alley, must check these!

Let me also compile a short overview of stuff I know already, emil.y...your yearly dose of imagocore...

Let's keep it to Singles With Videos that I reckon might have a chance of placing, for now

Okay well the most important thing is that everyone hears Clarissa Connelly - Give It Back - it is hard to exaggerate how hard this hits me, and I'd classify it as very much an ILM thing too. Genre is basically Artpop Loveliness idk

Oh, you want more Artpop Loveliness, except with more of a jazzy pep? That'll be Fievel Is Glauque - As Above So Below which, once heard, will burrow DELIGHTFULLY into soul

Outside pick for Artpop Loveliness? Let's keep the pep, dial up the jangle a little and make the video even bolder, it's time for Joanna Wang - There She Smiles (In A Memory) - wow! What a rush of mixed-up Artpop Loveliness feelings this is!

Lest I be pigeonholed however, VR SEX - Inanimate Love is neither Artpop nor Lovely: the band is, or was, kind of a trainwreck - a wild psychedelic postpunk explosion (and the best live act I've seen in years) that broke up a few months ago over seemingly, um, political differences (the main guy and songwriter at least being on the right side of them); the video is definitively NSFW; the whole thing exudes the stench of a moral and aesthetic decay it's documenting all too vividly. But somehow, there's beauty here too, if approached in a certain light...

Oh and just for you, I've already dragged Music League through this. Written as a terrifying love song by one of my friends to another of my friends who's gone to live with her and make more terrifying beautiful insane music together. Also the fullest realisation of 'imagocore' possibly yet:
https://april1830.bandcamp.com/track/demo-lucy

am open to some lobbying to fill up any potential space in my ballot (paging imago, NickB - you guys in particular will probs have some cool stuff I might be interested in)

okay, challenge accepted! :)

if i were to make a mixtape for my friend emil.y in the year of our lad 2024 i think i would pick the following tracks...

Florence Adooni - Otoma da Naba
Florence Adooni - Vocalize My Luv
No other musician has filled me with as much pure happiness this year as Florence Adooni, who comes from a Ghanaian tradition of spiritually-inclined highlife known as fra-fra gospel, and makes this joyful and highly danceable music that just sets my heart alight. Otoma de Haba is her most startling track so far, incorporating acid house synth lines and somewhat frantic polyrhythms with Florence's lovely voice floating on top of it all. Vocalize My Love is more of a straight-up afrobeat bomb but again full of squiggly synth work which is a delightful new development in her sound. I can't choose between these tracks, sorry - have them both!

Erika Angell - Let Your Hair Down
Erika Angell has been around in various groups for a good long while but her debut album 'The Obsession With Her Voice' came out this year and is just totally off the chain. It's kind of Laurie Anderson-esque synths and spoken word mixed with avant-jazz vocalising that make me think of Annette Peacock. Throw in some great slippery strings and it's a wonderfully deep and involving listen, feels like you're on a solo mission into deep space.

Tristwch Y Fenywod - Ferch Gyda'r Llygaid Du
Got a feeling you might already know this album? Witchy, feminist, welsh-language post-punk meets crepuscular folk music, they need to be writing soundtracks for low-budget folk horror films imo.

DJ Subaru - My Love (Prins Thomas Diskomiks)
Queer cosmic disco from DJ Subaru with the excellently named Tiss Vampiric on lust-filled vocals. the synths on this are so heavy with this sense of impossible yearning, i find it both sleazy and heart-breaking

Wallace - Cravings (ft Love Letters)
Been a breakout year for Scottish house producer Wallace, whose productions have mostly been fairly happy-sounding party-friendly bangers with some sort of clever twist to them (e.g. 'Tanzanite' features this massive mobile-phone-on-vibrate noise as its hook, would love to have experienced that one out in the wild). This one is something else again though, this is for 3 o'clock in the morning when you're full of bad chemicals and your mind is so dark you can't even remember who you even are anymore. Again a bit of a sleazy electro thing, with a vibe that makes me think of early Chicago house from the likes of Jamie Principle or K. Alexi Shelby

Romain FX - 宇宙女人 Spacer Woman (Kaona Vocal Version)
This cantonese version of the italo classic 'Spacer Woman' has been circulating as a mysterious and unidentified track for a few years but only got an official release this autumn. Not sure it actually got nommed but definitely one of the tunes of the year

Arash & Quasar - Double Moon
Ludicrous track tbh but if anyone else can love it, i know emil.y will. Tatar folk music meets acid-laced italo disco, one for the rave cossack playlist

Robert Sotelo & Mary Currie - 'Expectations'
Old-school DIY art-pop from two lifers, RIYL This Heat, Robert Wyatt

Th Blisks - Knuckledust
Smudged and skeletal indie-pop from Australia, a primitive take on 90s beats, Grouper-like gauzy textures, some beautiful jangle pop harmonies

Hiro Ama - Everything Is Going To Make Sense In The End
In Hiro's own words... “I sometimes think after all the difficulties and challenges we face during our lifetime, it might not make sense at that time, but I hope that everything will fall into place, and somehow everything is going to make sense in the end. Playful melodies represent optimism, and the song is a reminder to myself to approach life with a sense of lightness and humour. Ultimately in the grand scheme of things, nothing really matters. Having said that, I think it’s important to find peace and harmony in our lives. The moments we share, the experiences we cherish, and the journey to find one’s own inner peace and harmony do matter. It's in these moments of tranquillity and connection that true fulfilment is found.”

i didn't nominate and i'm not voting, but i'd like to advocate for the following albums:

kelly lee owens - dreamstate
or:la - trusting theta
moin - you never end
tems - born in the wild
two shell - two shell
total blue - total blue
naemi - dust devil
fine - rocky top ballads
syclops - black eye
clara la san - made mistakes

i ended up voting for three tems tracks lol. only two from that album tho ;P

was great seeing total blue place on a few eoy lists, magnificent record

yeah i'm going to be voting pretty highly for that one, any gigi masin fans out there need to check that one out, big echoes of the gaussian curve stuff

(perks up ears)

Total Blue - Corsair

bit of an Eberhard Weber ECM-ish thing going on too

DIIV - Brown Paper Bag
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1E4CXXWO-9M

Putting the shoe into shoegaze. I think "Raining on Your Pillow" might be the bigger song from this album and is also great. Can't speak about the rest of this album yet but BPB will make my Top 25.

Not going to get too geeky in this thread but is the weekend and chilling listening to music.

I know this album has at least some ilm fans, but Dina Ogon's Orion was my go-to all year. (Confirmed by Spotify as my most-played.) I liked their previous albums too and I think I voted for the prior one that year, but the full yacht vibe of this one was total comfort food. And the groove on the title track alone (nominated in Tracks, as well) I could listen to on an hourlong loop.

Dina Ogon - Orion

Total Blue was a last minute nom from me. Didn't realise it would be so well received here although totally deserves to be.

And stellar job on the tracks nominations as usual everyone. Will have the playlist on shuffle for the next few weeks (and probably beyond)

Thanks for the recommendations - haven't listened to everything yet, taking some random samples and there's some great stuff here.

Just want to note this in particular:
Arash & Quasar - Double Moon
Ludicrous track tbh but if anyone else can love it, i know emil.y will. Tatar folk music meets acid-laced italo disco, one for the rave cossack playlist

THIS IS INCREDIBLE AAAAAAARGH I LOVE IT SO MUCH

hahaha! :))

lots of similar nonsense on the EP btw:
https://skylaxrecords.bandcamp.com/album/double-moon-mellah-3

The Arash & Quasar is great - NickB also nominated it last year and I voted for it:

Arash & Quasar - Double Moon
https://skylaxrecords.bandcamp.com/album/double-moon-mellah-3
Been obsessing over this all of last month but looking back at that i'm not even sure it's out properly yet, so maybe i'll be repeating all this again in 12 months time? anyhow, it's new italo disco stuff from a tatar duo singing in their native tongue and using traditional instruments with some acidy synth touches for good measure. entire EP is fantastic and includes a kraftwerk cover also in tatar, but this was that track that hooked me in

(Another track on that EP is a great version of Kraftwerk's "The Model": https://arashandquasar.bandcamp.com/track/super-soul-you-are-wasted-in-life-cause-you-drink-too-much-arash-quasar-edit )

Some industrial-y NZ stuff that might be of interest to imago/emil.y:

Grecco Romank - Asbestos Tarot
Beauty-and-the-beast bogan EBM purveyors return with a ravey Kate Bush tale of cryogenics.

Moider Mother - Hierarchy of Grottos
Nick Harte (DFA's Shocking Pinks)'s punk-funk anchors Hannah Harte's Heavenly Creatures scowling and shrieking. Goth-y God Is My Co-Pilot vibes.

Louisa Nicklin - The Shroud
Portishead's Third as genre; contemporary classical background gives her Shayne Carter-produced post-punk swoon a subtle spatiality.

Night Lunch - Dog Show
Munted Dunedin duo take Hairy Maclary's Showbusiness to the landfill; Lightning Bolt played at 33.3rpm.

Ducklingmonster - I know​.​.​.​.​.​.​a​.​.​.​way​.​.​.
Barnacled boombox field recordings and scratched 45s macraméd into dalek disco.

NickB also nominated it last year

lol, i did? i'm fucking going crackers. release date is Jan 2024 though so still valid, huzzah!

some hot tips not yet mentioned:

- Deni Kristani - Pupus Gedang: over on the Outernational thread, ArchCarrier shared a cool genre of music from Java, idk whether calling it "gamelan pop" is technically accurate but it's a useful description. "Pupus Gedang" is a 2024 song I liked, the shimmering percussion and Deni's voice fly off together (plus the periodically whooping dude in the background!).
- LEENALCHI - Bird: Korean traditional pansori song-storytelling jazzed up with modern arrangements. RIYL Ukrainian Eurovision entries.

- Caoilfhionn Rose - Constellation: gorgeous chamber folk, I've been swimming in this album all year. RIYL Movietone or Music for People in Trouble
- Kumio Kurachi - Open Today: Japanese artrock blending up Roxy, math-rock, old punk guys who got really into folk music, repeated listens to Cloudbusting,...puts a smile on my face.

btw daerest tipsy mothra, my final track nomination has now been added to Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/track/49RdDBQj8TMEGsdJFCt01l?si=KMsL_s2MQ1-b8yhaGoNr2g&context=spotify%3Aalbum%3A4Krf6o2IsXJ8TTWgkmKpvK
Cheeeeeeers

Added!

I'll post about a few of my track noms here.

Atki2 - NightWalking

Atki2 is a good friend of mine who's been DJing and producing since at least the early days of dubstep. Since then he's become a luminary in the Bristol bass scene, producing an album earlier in the year that was akin to heavy instrumental dancehall and soca. But for me, this track from his Interzone EP is the standout of a string of releases he's put out recently. It's a departure from his other stuff in many ways, as it's going straight into jungle territory. But it's also got these amazing Balearic atmospheircs which it rides over. Drum'n'Balearic? Maybe - it does a similar thing to liquid d'n'b but without sounding anything like liquid. It's also extremely tuff and bassy. Love this tune

Les Amazones D'Afrique - Flaws

I saw this video right at the beginning of Jan 2024 and I already knew it would be near the top of my EOY list. Since then it's been a staple of my DJ sets - in fact I'd be hard pushed to think of a time I didn't include it. The video itself is fantastic, of course, but it's just got this really satisfying production and sound and the vocals are top notch.

Iyanii ft Mwanaa & Cedo - Kifo Cha Mende
Vinka ft K&K - Tompa

While I am very much pro the proliferating influence of amapiano on the Afro-pop genre, something I'm also enjoying at the moment is the resurgence of Caribbean dancehall and soca on pop music in East Africa.

Iyanii from Kenya's 'Kifo Cha Mende' has almost a 90s bashment vibe to it, while 'Tompa' by Ugandan star Vinka has a beautifully catchy bounce to it reminiscent of my favourite soca tunes from the 2010s. Both are immediate hits in my canon and also featured heavily in my DJ sets this year.

If you still need a vibe check, watch this clip of Iyanii performing for a Kenyan audience. It's something else: https://www.tiktok.com/@officialiyanii/video/7435308543353310519?lang=en&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3QAloQFMrTDoj08azy63xuHN4_NjdgzIX7pNp9NJno20HVg3EYUzsxeBQ_aem_mzSyLPjRcaIPigGRIfPTAQ

honorable mentions: Michal Banabila (really the whole Music From Memory label, see Bandcamp)

sleeve, this was put out by knekelhuis! i only correct you b/c i want to point out what an incredible year they had with the banabila, reymour, and stacks albums, all of which would place on ilm's top 77 if the world were just :)

DJ Lag - Yebo

My prediction for 2025 is that Gqom will finally get its spotlight on the world stage. I used to think of gqom as amapiano's tougher, darker, less accessible cousin. But thanks to incredible producers like Lag, the style has diversified and his THE REBELLION album is just a jawdropping listen full of interesting twists and turns. Not least "Yebo", which comes crashing in after just a short drumloop intro with a vocl so stentorian it sounds like it's being barked into the room from outside by a giant. Add to this some apocalyptically heavy bass, and you've got yourself a knee-knocking certi BANGER!

Oklou - family and friends

This wasn't one of my own noms. I think seandalai posted it on the thread, and it immediately leapt into my top ten. Jaw-droppingly beautiful piece of music, all pretty and swirling like being wrapped up in an astral blanket. Gave me proper chills first time I heard it

Impérieux - All The Land

I learned about this interesting bobbins-type tune through Tim F who I think featured it on a playlist. This is entrancing, a slow, tribal rhythm unfolds with heavy, atmospheric bass. But what makes this is the sampled "Lelelelelelelelele" chants that pan and fade around the mix. I'd be interested in the origins of the sample, but it gives me strong Midsommar vibes for some reason. This is uniquely atmospheric. I've yet to find the right time to drop it in a mix, but don't think I wouldn't.

Chrissy - EMERGENCY LOOP (0060)

From Chrissy's amusingly-titled 'B2B Tools' EP (check the track title again, CDJ fans), comes this stormer of a dance track. The apposite Curb Your Enthusiasm sample kicks things off in fine style, but it doesn't muck about. By the time the "PUMP THE BASS UP! PUMP THE BASS UP!" vocal kicks in I'm just itching to swirl the deck back for a rewind

ah thanks karl! xps

banabila got a good reception on a couple of threads
it's on my longlist at the moment so you never know

DJ Lag - Yebo

This is one that jumped out at me from the playlist, good stuff.

Ex-easter Island Head - Norther: Fun use of acoustic textures and instruments arranged in what would normally be a very Berlin-esque experimental/ambient techno record. A couple songs utilize percussion really well and the rest sit in this experimental electro-acoustic/texture hybrid space that reminds me of artists like Rrose, but with strings.

I really like about half of this, less so when it dissolves into drone or gets too slathered in fx and loses the grit of people actually playing instruments. Cool though!

Jichael Mackson - Wait for It: Really pretty and textured beats that just creates a fully immersive atmosphere. Past records that this reminds me of are SW.'s debut LP, the slower parts of Skee Mask's Compro, and Pretty Sneaky's self titled full length. Ignore the annoying 2010s style gimmick name. Legit awesomeness here.

This is a great work listen so far, sort of Actress-lite, and yeah I had been ignoring it because of the name.

tbf jichael mackson was ahead of the curve re annoying names, he's been around since the mnml mid 00s days

did ex easter island head make an eoy poll here in the mid 2010s?
I've been following them for years on social media and presume it's because of here

Jichael Mackson released an all-timer with "The Grass is Always Greener" in 2007, which not only samples "Wicked Game" but also samples Bob Ross. Perfect comedown song, used to play it in the wee hours when I DJed out.

"Fluff in the Bellybutton" also a great JM track.

as someone who is terrible at coming up with names (as my username proves), i understand the impulse to name something the first dumb joke i can think of

Ok, highlighting a few of my lesser known noms:

Holy Tongue Meets Shackleton - The Tumbling Psychic Joy of Now
https://ad93.bandcamp.com/album/the-tumbling-psychic-joy-of-now
My favorite dub band (feat. everyone's favorite Valentina Magaletti) goes great with Shackleton at the helm, his recent collaborative run has been stellar (also nommed his collab album on Nyege Nyege from this year).

Happy Apple - New York CD
Utterly unique and telepathic Minnesota jazz-not-jazz trio (feat. Dave King of the Bad Plus and saxophonist Michael Lewis who's been playing bass in Bon Iver's band for a living) releases their first album in 17 years, I hope they're getting their moment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itVA-yCvLvY

Molly Miller Trio - The Ballad of Hotspur
Wide-open desert jazz with Jay Bellerose on drums, making it sort of a companion to the Jeff Parker album that I'm sure will place highly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jm9__IQ35c

Lechuga Zafiro - Desde los oidos de un sapo
South American club rhythms made from his own percussion & field recordings, with just the right amount of synths mixed in
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-U-SdqqbqY

McCoy Tyner/Joe Henderson/Henry Grimes/Jack DeJohnette - Forces of Nature
Club recording from '66 that was previously unreleased, even for these legends this is something, so intense and yet tight. They're giving it their all and yet from the recording it sounds like they were playing for about 5 people on a random night.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1XhXiUCcZg

And I'm sure I'll be voting for Floating Points, Jeff Parker, Oren Ambarchi, etc.

Ok a couple more --

Binkbeats - OHM
I'm almost too much the target audience for this, the term "polyrhythmic" gets way overused but it actually applies to these dubby percussion and techno-adjacent pieces. He made his name doing live beat recreations on Youtube (hence the name), but this is a mature work and is super under-heard I think.
https://binkbeats.bandcamp.com/album/ohm

Howie Lee - At the Drolma Wesel-Ling Monastery
As it sounds, beats and club music made from samples he made while staying at a Tibetan monastery.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5rZz-GWcLY

And some tracks, mostly sound design-y UK bass and one fun juke:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL0IHEVdXNA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CnxmBq-d5Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h5XSSjLQis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMkiymDlwrk

Ok I'm done now.

thanks Jordan, I lost track of Nyege Nyege this year, these Shackleton ones are very cool

Here's track from an album I nominated Alepher - Dodges Aim, another release from the STROOM label. The drum pattern winds away, I find it impossible to wrap my head around it, each individual drum seems to exist in its own universe. The album is full of echoing percussive miniatures and weird FM tones that burrow into your consciousness.

https://stroomtv.bandcamp.com/track/untitled-2-svdh-ms

I just listened to that the other day, it's got a bit of a hard drive dump feel that could have benefited from some editing, but mostly really strong. Yeah I love the sound palette too and it's got a good sense of mystery.

yeah, I don't know that there are a lot of essential individual tracks there, but it's a vibe that I'm happy to inhabit for an extended period of time

I nominated two tracks involving Rose Gray, an up and coming British popstar, and frankly could easily have nominated several more. She has an album entitled Louder, Please coming out next week (the cover art a nod, seemingly, to Moloko's Statues) and all five songs released from it thus far are excellent, perhaps first passed off as brat or JADE simulacra, but which have, with time, come to stand on their own two feet for me. I'm manifesting a Chappell Roan-style rise for her this year. "Free" is the lead single that I nominated, produced by Zhone (who's had a hand in Troye Sivan's "Rush" and Kesha's "Joyride", amongst other things), it's got one of my favourite middle eights of the year. The other track is a collaboration with dance producer TSHA, "Girls", the 2024 Northern Hemisphere summer smash that never was, hammering synths, whistle tones and all, and which can sit neatly aside the SG Lewis & Tove Lo collaborative EP that was released at around the same time.

Also on a brat-tip is Blusher's "Accelerator". They're a local trio who started out making music like MUNA and have since moved into slightly brasher territory. "Accelerator" starts off with the lyric "sometimes I feel like I want to jump out of a helicopter when I'm looking at you" and only gets better from there.

I think my tracks #1 is most likely to be Tems' "Burning", though I would wager "Love Me JeJe" will do better in the overall rankings. "Burning" reminds me in equal parts of Des'ree and Sade, and I find its simple chorus so affecting.

A shout out to Naarm's Folk Bitch Trio, whose "God's A Different Sword" is something like First Aid Kit with a bit of edge.

On the albums front, I think Alex Anwandter last gained traction around these parts with his single "Siempre es viernes en mi corazón" ("It's Always Friday In My Heart"), but his new record Dime Precioso is fabulous, like a queer Latin take on Phoenix's It's Never Been Like That. Phoebe Go's splendid EP-length album Marmalade is recommended to anyone searching for quality post-boygenius pop. Palestinian-Chilean artist Elyanna snagged a Pitchfork review for her superb album WOLEDTO back in April, rivalling Rileasa Slaves for best Rihanna impersonator of 2024 with monster tracks like "GANENI" and "MAMA EH". I also loved Julia-Sophie's album forgive too slow, which Kat St. A reviewed on P4K - vocals whispered seductively down the phone line over dancefloor-ready beats.

And finally, one of my favourite new pop acts of the year was Kaeto, originally from Scotland and now based in London, whose INTRO EP I nominated in albums (because all its songs are great - some a little shoegazey, some a little HAIMy), along with the massive "DISTANCE" in tracks - which is for anyone like me that grew a little weary of Jessie Ware's mighty hooplafication on That! Feels Good and kinda sorta wouldn't mind if she returned to the sound of her debut album.

Oh I probably should give a shout out to Natanya's "boombox" too. I dunno if the lex is still compiling lists, but this to me is classic lex fodder, whip-smart British R&B, the sort of thing Mutya Keisha and Siobhan could conceivably be making if they weren't still faffing around on their endless legacy / nostalgia tour.

I think it was a very melancholic year for me because I was into some very quiet, subtle “vibe-y” music this year.

Open Space - Control
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KHMDuCEPqg
Open Space are Sade’s keyboardist, Andrew Hale and balearic dj/producer Apiento. Laura Groves on guest vocals.
One of the few physical singles I bought this year. A side (Open) wasn’t nommed but both tracks are very beautiful and elegant mood pieces. Atmospheric r&b with a subtle balearic / kosmische vibe.

Herbert - Fallen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLzFL-8DM2Q
Momoko’s sultry, repetitive, hypnotic vocals lead until the track gets lifted up at the 2 min mark with a locomotive-like beat and the intermitent bass is the only element really evolving thru the track.

Chanel Beads - Idea June
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-yXv3eLgNk
There’s 2 other Chanel Beads noms and I’m afraid they’re going to suffer from vote split. The whole album feels like a collection of sketches and not actual songs. This “sketch” is only 1:30 mins long - yt vid is actually an extended version which is perhaps better as you can’t have enough of a good thing, but it doesn’t need anything else. It’s a perfect piece of dream pop as it is. Reminds me of Grouper.

Hildegard - Cruel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMVjigRPfFE
You want more melancholic atmospheric r&b pieces? I got you. Helena Deland’s voice is so comforting. Lovely harmonies, guitars and those “oh oh oh oh” loops.

Fine - Big Muzzy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9IoUZGXHts
One of my favorite albums of this year. Lush dream pop. Cocteau Twins fans will probably love this one.

nice, enjoyed that hildegard record

xp - Fans of Chanel Beads will probably love two of the most gorgeous songs of the year:
'The Way' by Tusks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGCx1Y1uEcE

and 'What My Heart Is For' by Quiet Houses:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4CkBhNyO1E

A couple of other standouts everyone just HAS to listen to:

'Dalía' by Julia Sabaté, a mix of almost-industrial beats and lovely melodies by a Dutch-Spanish singer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyD2NVgRN8Y

'Colapsado' by Crizin da Z.O., hard to describe techno-rap from Brazil. I forgot to nominate the album, so I will vote for the track:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKE9U4MP-d4

More Outernational sounds from Indonesia by way of the Netherlands: 'Mang Becak' by Nusantara Beat. 70s psych rock instead of gamelan pop:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chLcW8X-TNU

Shit, sorry for the embeds!

Here's track from an album I nominated Alepher - Dodges Aim, another release from the STROOM label. The drum pattern winds away, I find it impossible to wrap my head around it, each individual drum seems to exist in its own universe. The album is full of echoing percussive miniatures and weird FM tones that burrow into your consciousness.

https://stroomtv.bandcamp.com/track/untitled-2-svdh-ms

― Muad'Doob (Moodles), Monday, 6 January 2025 18:59 (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink

This is really cool btw

some rap trax i nommed that deserve attention

star bandz - "yea yea": chicago 16-year-old (yes, born in 2008) makes a memorable introduction over a batshit ahmad jamal flip

mcvertt ft. 41 - "hate the real": it's ny drill and it's jersey club but it's also ambient? a gorgeous and jittery confluence of sounds

bossman dlow - "get in with me": he was the biggest new street rapper of 2024. love how he structures his rhymes like a call and response, designed for fans to scream back at him at shows. lots of memorable lines.

j.p. - "bad bitty": the first milwaukee rap song to get any commercial traction, what gets me here is the contrast between the wistful major 7th chords, splattering handclaps and the relentless horniness (dude can sing, too)

ka - "borrowed time": could've picked any song from the late, legendary rapper's thief next to jesus album, but this one hit me the hardest ("i pray it's borrowed time when my time come")

nle choppa - "slut me out 2": didn't nom this one, but had to shout it out.

Oh, another fun discovery from the playlist: that Taylor Swift only wrote the 3rd best song called Down Bad released last year. And I only wrote the 2nd! ;) Great stuff TATYANA

album i nommed --

David Murphy - Cuimhne Ghlinn: Explorations in Irish Music for Pedal Steel Guitar

I should have bought this when I saw it in a record store in Cork this past summer. It's really sublime, lovely stuff.

I'll also always rep for Space Ghost and Long Island Sound, a couple of underappreciated artists who almost always release vv high quality tracks/EPs/albums.

lol lj

I love that Tatyana song. Those arps!

big fan of “down bad” even though i associate it with 2023??? enjoy ilx

oh wait nm it was right at the start of last year. i’m temporally insane now

in the albums list, for autechre there is AE_LYON_070524 and "AE_LIVE 2022 -". I think AE_LYON should be removed as it is part of AE_LIVE 2022 -

A quieter year for the ilxor faves of kpop - though Newjeans still has a couple of really great tracks nominated you should check out.

Meanwhile rosé and bruno mars are still fighting for the spotify #1 with global mega hit APT.

I want to go to bat for aespa's Supernova, though - massive in Korea but not riding overseas trends, mostly just steamrolling ahead with a very local SM (the label) sound with in-house producer Kenzie, of kpop classics back to BoA, SNSD heydays, doing her own thing, sounding very Korean, sharp synths, sharp voices, very "kpop" in how we used to talk about it 10 years ago, "aaAH BODY bang bang bang", good stuff.

Oh, Supernova was absolutely one of the best discoveries so far yeah, really really good

my wrap-up. longpost.

first listen loves from the noms playlist/campaigning thus far. all will be receiving votes from me. thank you for posting:
―love remain - "LDN GRLS - gboyega'a theme"
this was good enough to get me to check out the ep, which is really good. twee dubstep?
―caoilfhionn rose - "dying star"
damn i love her! i knew her from her appearances with the durutti column almost a decade ago -she was basically the centerpiece of chronicle- but had no clue she was releasing her own records. this standalone single is the exact sort of thing that's too easy to like. it's too reminiscent of too many things i love. this inspired me to check out the album, which is even better.🔥
―natanya - "boombox"
maybe the best discovery from the playlist? kind of a pop r+b/amapiano tyla vibe but also this is megachorus, so everyone wins. older material on streaming is also good.
―roy+god colony - "loss is not infinite"
riyl the pet shop boys/sean ryder collab that should have happened in 1990. some of the most brilliant bullshit i've heard in years. whatever you do: don't be yourself. noted.
―porij - "unpredictable"
the thing that keeps a question mark in natanya's comments. this groove/chorus combo+dynamic is straight up fun. i hate to be this kind of person but if you don't like this song, we can't be friends sorry. absolute smasher.
―kaeto - "distance"
oh this _is_ good! currently on repeat. wow!

general thoughts:
―this isn't a bad thing, but i'm noticing a lot of fake grimes in the picks this year. the beats on the charli xcx album completely reminded me of art angels for example. idk how to feel about this.
―another year, another reminder that i have no excuse for sleeping on yazmin lacey. she has an even newer single that missed the noms and it's predictably awesome.
―hearing all the songs from the cure album spread out through the shuffling noms brought up some feelings. i didn't really post much about the album and i don't want to, honestly. it's fine. it makes me feel unresolved anger at the reception of their previous three albums. there's a lot to say about them and the new album but idk. the album's just okay. they seem to be having fun live. it's fine. everything's just fine.
―in terms of domination of a pop song and something just being everywhere in my head immediately because of course have you heard how catchy it is? kali uchis' "never be yours" was so instantaneously classic. she was in that zone on autopilot most of the year tho. i mention the song kinda casually, but if i do a weighted ballot it's a #1 contender.
―which brings me to: idk should i do an unweighted ballot this year? i've given a lot of strategic thought to doing weighted ballots in the past but anymore...enh. i can yell at ya'll and put temani hill as my #1 all i want but she doesn't have a real chance of making it so...enh , should i just do an unweighted ballot where kali and temani are repped equally?
―speaking of which: have you heard "clouds" by temani hill?

xps “Supernova” is a Parisalexa co-write, an R&B singer who put out an album / tape called 2Real a couple of years ago that I really liked.

Agree on Kaeto - Distance being great. One of the highlights I discovered on the playlist.

i didn't nominate and i'm not voting, but i'd like to advocate for the following albums:

kelly lee owens - dreamstate
or:la - trusting theta
moin - you never end
tems - born in the wild
two shell - two shell
total blue - total blue
naemi - dust devil
fine - rocky top ballads
syclops - black eye
clara la san - made mistakes

Hell yeah this list has like 4-5 things I'm probably going to put on my ballot. Now to check out the rest! You have great taste ivy. The KLO, or:la and maemi records were huge highlights this year, and I loved total blue as well.

Jordan you too - I love that Binkbeats record, the Howie Lee (which I was lucky enough to get on wax with his last one in a double package), and anything Koreless touches. Going to check out your other recs now.

Damn I hope the results are flooded with the great electronic/instrumental stuff that came out this year. Was a fantastic year for it.

maemi was meant to be naemi. Incredible record and vibe. Highly recommended as well.

ivy please vote there's at least 3 records in there that I want to see in the top 77.

xxxp: blimey, didn't realise that Ka had died in the few months since his LP!

vote for nap eyes

thread: nap eyes

xp had no idea Ka passed either. And I was in NYC at the time and heard nothing of it for some strange reason. This is such a bummer, fuck

Hi! I've completely ignored this process and all year-end wrap-ups on all websites, and i've felt really out of it current-music-wise... but i just did a real rough list and i've got 22 loved albums and 24 i wanna listen to a bit closer, and if i can be open to some campaigning this next couple weeks, i can feel alright putting in a vote. i know i'd encourage others to. Tracks who knows,i'll think about it!

ANYWAY: the new SZA was not nommed?? I can't really complain, having not taken part, but i guess we'll just have to get to it next year eh

Looks like Mica Levi had a band album that wasn't nommed either, there's just too much good music.
(https://good-sad-happy-bad.bandcamp.com/album/all-kinds-of-days)

xp The SZA is just an extended version of SOS which came out "two" years ago in December of 2022. Unless you're thinking individual songs...

ivy please vote there's at least 3 records in there that I want to see in the top 77.

― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Wednesday, January 8, 2025 7:18 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink

all right i'll reluctantly submit an albums ballot even though my favorite album of the year bring me the horizon post human: nex gen was not nominated

thanking you

xxp It is a whole nother album's worth of music that she legitimately could've put out as a big new album. Surprised no one made a case for this in time... of course the Dec 20 release did not help. A follow-up single will probably help it place next year... 'year of impact' or whatnot.

A quieter year for the ilxor faves of kpop - though Newjeans still has a couple of really great tracks nominated you should check out.

Pretty funny that Newjeans has got to be the most popular thing on here that I enjoy by far, and that I only ever find out about them through these polls.

noticed a typo on the noms sheet. sahbabii's album is called saaheem, not saheem(i will be voting for it, it bangs from start to finish. here is "viking.")

also need to correct my own nom lol, it's el snappo, not el snapo

The Fauns thefauns.bandcamp.com/album/how-lost also try Afterburner. MY pick of album of the year. I don't know how they see themselves but I hear The Field Mice and Slowdive. They are lovely.

I would be disappointed if we didn't find room for the MEMORIALS record as well

Loma - Pink Sky
Came across this on FB, recommended by a fellow Ilxor. I don't know how to describe this but it's very Portishead-adjacent with its spooky hip-hop noir atmosphere, but also it's entirely its own thing.

Self Esteem x Moonchild Sanelly
Absolute monster of a tag team here. One of the catchiest things either of them have ever done and executed so boldly. A classic in my eyes.

Kabin Crew vs Lisdoonvarna Crew - The Spark
You'd have been hard pushed not to have come across this kick-ass viral hit from earlier in 2024. A music scheme for Irish kids and their Ukrainian compadres churned out this effortless banger. So much energy, so much fun - definitely one of the biggest and best tunes of the year.

Bunji Garlin - NO!
No stranger to the ILX EOY lineup, Trini artist Bunji Garlin created yet another soca stormer with this sound anti-harrassment anthem "NO!". When the vibe is this wild, no one on the dancefloor should be thinking about doing anything other than dancing.

Surprised noone nominated a The Fauns for the tracks poll.

listening to the noms, even tho my votes are pretty much locked. hadn’t heard the kaitlyn aurelia smith song yet—reminds me of sally shapiro

I nominated the album fairly late Moka as assumed it would have already been nominated xp

Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory - Afterlife:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zc-R0bSt5FA

Fire is all consuming. Since Tuesday it has been the only thing on my TV. This has been one of the most devastating weeks in my life. I'm far enough away that I'm not directly in danger but... January is also my works most intense months as I work for UHC, 10 hour days. Yes, it was my CEO who was gunned down in NYC not too long ago.

I wanted to listen to music just to change the mood. This is the most beautiful song I heard this year.

I seem to be listening mainly to women vocals these days, so different from my youth.

i need to take a look at the noms list because i have a feeling a lot of my pick won’t be on there :-( no one to blame but myself

Voted. I'm still enjoying listening to the playlists, but I had plenty for a ballot based on what I already know from the year so I figured I might as well get it in and avoid last-minute rush.

Some on my end of year list and missing from here IMHO

Hauntologist - Hollow (BM)
Pom Poko - Champion (Indie/Math Rock)
Amanda Whitling - Jazz (Harpist)
Aluk Todolo - LUX (psych/noise rock/sludge/metal)
Jean-Emmanuel Rosnet - Les Alentours (Not Not Fun)
Lankum - Live in Dublin (irish folk/indie)
Mildlife - Chorus (fusion funk/jazz)

https://undomondo.substack.com/p/undomondos-best-of-2024-a77

Grecco Romank - Asbestos Tarot

"Wet Exit" was one of my favorite 2023 albums, but I've felt like the various tracks dribbling out this year have been hit or miss. This one's a keeper though.

This is going to be a really interesting countdown. More than ever I don't think there's going to be much consensus beyond the obvious Charli/Chappelle/Sabrina trifecta (none of whom quite made it into my own list)

Feel like I should hype the Danish artists I nominated, apart from Erika de Casier, Astrid Sonne and Clarissa Connelly, whom I think everyone knows? But these others are also great:

'Alle' is a pseudonym for Natal Zaks, who is most known for his work with de Casier. As Alle he makes weird indiepop, a bit like John Maus, but much more naivistic. The lyrics in Danish are amazing, but he really also has his way with a wordless chorus. The album 'Hvis det er' is all good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUl7DMEjQIM

Two years ago I think I voted for eight songs from Tobias Rahim, these days he only makes one good song a year. But Bellevue (feat D1MA, an anonymous rapper who is also massive in Denmark )was the biggest hit of the year, and it's lovely summer-pop.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gevo5hEBgJM

Casper Munns makes shoegazy indie in his bands Himmelrum and 100%WET (who has a new single out this friday, I'll write more about them then) and his soloalbum 'Filter Feeders' as Drop goes even more into digicore/hyperpop territory. Bugs&Fears has a great d'n'b-beat and chorus, and the rest of the album goes from Yves Tumor to Jane Remover to sounding pretty much just like Casper Munns.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oG-MD7UZh_U

Kogekunst is a duo from Aalborg, who most of the times make weird postpunk'y grooves and sings out of tunes harmonies on top, but every once in a while they make an undeniable indie-pop anthem as well. 'Kan du heller ikke sove' sounds like corroded Autre ne Veut/Animal Collective, and the whole album is a great listen, although the very funny lyrics are lost if you don't understand Danish...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3f0ldAJEmo

Part 2 to come. Tomorrow.

Just stumbled across the frankly incredible 'Deep Wave' in the playlist. Immediately had to see who nominated it. Oh hi emil.y lol

Part 2 to come. Tomorrow.

Yup. And wow, didn't think anyone would get that reference, that was just for my own enjoyment.

whew I still have ten days

I will admit this isn't quite as much fun without the Spotify playlists to shuffle through, but I'll live

Part 2:

Kindsight is my favourite Danish band at the moment, and they made my favourite Danish album of 2024. They might only be the Danish Alvvays, but they are so good at it. They're also the type of band-band where every member adds something to the picture, so the drummer is almost as important as the two singer-guitarists. Though obviously the star is Nina Hyldgaard, who just nails those melismas in the chorus to should-have-been-an-indie-hit Tomorrow. They always go for the bliss rather than the meaningful phrase, and I love them to bits for it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OpwL1z69jo

Bonus song since Tomorrow was guessed. Love You Baby All The Time is more indie-ish in it's studio construction (I hear swedish indie like Peter, Bjorn & John in the congas) and I just love how every time they repeat the mantra-like song title, it sounds just a tiny bit different, mirroring all the different ways love can feel in a relationship.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7L1Eu2XDDw

I nominated a track by Kingtommi last year, it's one third of great Danish band Uden Ord, who in his solo project is even more musically all-devouring, and for instance incorporates uk drill rhythms into his indie rock. His 'Haven' ep was his most epic work yet, I Natten is lovely indietronica sounding like 2004, and he played the best concert I heard all year at Roskilde, with his mates coming out in fantasy costumes and dancing to trap-breakdowns.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhfBcjd4cYw

Gorgeous made this incredible Cocteau Twins goes country single, and then followed up with a somewhat boring and tasteful retro-pop album. The lead singer doesn't sing like this on any of their other songs, and I don't get why, it's so weird and catchy and great.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvRn2SxyaMc

And finally we have Vægtløs. Whom I'm not thinking anyone else will vote for. Danish language post-metal, mostly amazing for the lyrics, which are incredibly emo and open-hearted. There's a new scene in the city of Aalborg of hardcore/metal bands making harsh but saccharine music and calling themselves things like 'Omsorg' which is Caring in Danish. I love it, but doubt it translates in any way. Nevertheless.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSGqhzTUUsM

I will admit this isn't quite as much fun without the Spotify playlists to shuffle through, but I'll live

― sleeve

But there are spotify playlists compiled by tipsymothra! check out the opening post.

Just stumbled across the frankly incredible 'Deep Wave' in the playlist. Immediately had to see who nominated it. Oh hi emil.y lol

― imago

Thanks be to Roz on the J-Pop thread! It's a decent banger of a tune in itself but the "entering the k-hole" tempo fuckery really elevates it to some kind of bonkers genius. Btw if you haven't tried the 3776 album yet, pleeeeease do I think there's a good chance you'll like it.

(I only did the Tracks list, fwiw, I think seandelai did albums)

I assume sleeve was stating they don't use Spotify any more but happy to be corrected

xp my bad, it was Nag! Nag! Nag! who did the albums list

xp correct

Btw if you haven't tried the 3776 album yet, pleeeeease do I think there's a good chance you'll like it.

― emil.y, Wednesday, 15 January 2025 15:23 (twenty-four minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

Not heard it, but I have seen its booklet, which is absolutely incredible! Will have to get on that soon...

Just stumbled across the frankly incredible 'Deep Wave' in the playlist. Immediately had to see who nominated it. Oh hi emil.y lol

― imago

Yeah, this (and the 3776) are fantastic.

Just noting that Elkka's "Passionfruit" shows up twice in the track nominations spreadsheet.

A few fun discoveries going through nominations - Chris Cohen's "Wishing Well" is great Up On The Sun-core, and Grito Exclamac!ón's "Intro" - Mexico City disco-punk take on the Kim Gordon spoken word side of Sonic Youth?

Ok, the Ex Easter Island Head record is a genuine discovery that I will be voting for (well, it was recommended to me by my musical partner but I first heard of it here, I don't know how it didn't cross my desk until now).

Thanks to whoever nominated Caoilfhionn Rose. That's a beautiful album.

I nominated Georgia Ruth's album and a track from it (not this one, but this is the one I liked most today). Didn't see much/any coverage of it for some reason.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjYKYLZJdYY

checking the 3776. the idea of an idol group with only one member left is hilarious

my brain is now bobbins

Why is The Birth Of The Universe the greatest thing ever

voted.

I, also, have voted.

I hope that some of you listened to the Being Dead album. I get hints of Pixes, Yo La Tengo, and Alvvays in their work. Lo-fi indie rock with wonderful harmonies and super inventive songs--they never quite go where you think they will.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqdW1GacjZ8

yeah i voted for it. thought it was a pretty considerable level-up from them, even tho their last album was good enough to make my 2023 ballot. they're unapologetically goofy but also not afraid to add in some moments of real beauty to throw you off balance

Good to hear. Goofy, yes, though I find their humor charming a la the Beatles. Hard to think of an album I've heard in recent years with as many ideas, most of them successful, and in a 39 min package, to boot.

I voted! Mixed ballot for the albums. Weighted ballot for the tracks.

really enjoyed the being dead record but must say that it does not at all sound lofi to me. but then again i have pretty low standards lol

glad chewy nominated that Soshi Takeda album because i missed its release, despite being aware of his work overall. it's phenomenally good.

Yes to these southern soul tracks that should appeal to r& b fans

Lenny Williams and West Love - I Will
Cecily Wilborn - Red Cup Blues
Marcellus TheSinger & Cecily Wilborn- You Baby

And these Latin pop tracks -

Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso- El Unico
Latin Mafia -Siento Que Merezco Mas
Rauw Alejandro- Cosa Nuestra
Karol G - “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido

Kind of a Pixies/Weezer vibe on this one:

https://shareband.bandcamp.com/track/cruiser

The Maries - Nothing One Noticed
Thttps://youtube.com/playlist?list=RD2SICBxM9V4Y&playnext=1&si=alUZn8RJpskr-WDr

This is why I take my turn to fill out my ballot. Thank you for whoever nominated this song and this clip is in both Spanish and English.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SICBxM9V4Y

Just been trying to actually organise my ballot and now I'm realising I listened to more music than I thought, might have to cut a couple of my own nominations, oops.

This Being Dead record is fantastic. It doesn't stop changing for a minute.

With Tove Lo on vocals (with rim job in video):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TX5t3xVwvFk

With SG Lewis on vocals:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhAaIvmZxZw

i have submitted an album ballot <3

A little bit of late campaigning for one of the non-drone (Davachi/Hennies/Malone) things I've spent the most time with this year, Shane Parish's Repertoire on Bill Orcutt's Palilalia Records; Fahey-ish solo guitar arabesques of avant jazz standards alongside Kraftwerk, Minutemen, Aphex Twin and John Cage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuIEIl-5Kso

Very cool rendition!

Voted! Later than usual for me and still not been able to hear much new to me from the playlist but hope to make some good discoveries in the results as usual.

What the absolute fuck @ this RIO FREE song. Holy shit. Amazing

Enjoying this Shane Parish album, but I already voted I'm sorry

submitted by albums ballot, skipped tracks because this felt like a much bigger album year to me personally

my*

I've got 3 spots left on my tracks ballot, I'm just gonna listen to the playlist on shuffle and add the next 3 tracks that I happen to like

Stuff I discovered through the tracks playlist. Many thanks to the nominators!

Nubya Garcia - "Triumphance"
NewJeans - "Bubble Gum"
Tems - "Love Me JeJe"
Doechii - "Denial is a River"
Orla Gartland - "The Hit"
Caroline Polachek - "Spring is Coming with a Strawberry in its Mouth"
Caribou - "Come Find Me"
Peggy Gou - "Find the Way"
Christine and the Queens - "rentrer chez moi"

voted, more than half my tracks is stuff I got from the nominations playlist, I just didn't listen to a whole lot of 2024 music in 2024 comparatively to most years. For albums I did manage to make a list of 14 albums I enjoyed this year.

I guess I should vote, huh?

lol same

I need to get better at voting for albums in 2025. Unfortunately that's dropped off tremendously of late, especially since buying vinyl (which is how I most enjoy listening to albums) has become so stupendously expensive in the UK

voting = listening, I should say. Although yes, I couldn't even list 25 new albums I'd heard and enjoyed this year, while my tracks list could have gone up to 150

Caroline Polachek - "Spring is Coming with a Strawberry in its Mouth"

― Indexed

This is actually a cover! I recommend hearing more of them!

https://operatingtheatre.bandcamp.com/album/spring-is-coming-with-a-strawberry-in-the-mouth-rapid-eye-movements

btw it probably doesn't matter but, as I do anticipate it picking up a few votes, Elkka's 'Passionfruit' is still in the nominations list twice.

I sent in an albums only ballot. I still mostly listen to music in album-size chunks, but usually in digital form.

xxp oh that's cool, I love that Operating Theatre record and Roger Doyle's work in general

Keep voting! We're open till Friday.

voted

voted

Voted, started off with -55 tracks.

how possible is a small extension, i was hoping to finish my ballot the last few days but i've been sick instead

how small is small?

a day or two at most? also depends if it's currently under 24 hours until deadline or a bit over 24 hours i forget how that works out

It's currently a bit over 24h

oh shoot. i have this confusion every time too lol

It's 36 hours almost dead on

No wait that's fake news. It's 44 hours

oh good

that's probably fine

Night Lunch - Dog Show
Munted Dunedin duo take Hairy Maclary's Showbusiness to the landfill; Lightning Bolt played at 33.3rpm.

Enjoyed this. Definitely in thrall to Girl Band but learning the right lessons from them

That Arash & Quasar track DOES go hard, nice!

SORRY I mean Gilla Band OH GOD

Arash & Quasar EP stays on. Really good stuff

Yep, it's so so good! They sample Kola Beldy, who I only know from this song but I should definitely check out more.

Yes!

Polite reminder to everyone who hasn't voted yet to give that Sky Ferreira song full consideration. She's coming back to save us all, you know

what is the Arash & Quasar song people like? I heard a very good early-90s style thing today by them called "No Vargan!"

'Double Moon' is the one nominated and that everyone should vote for.

(Probably a bit late for campaigning, I'm just about to submit my own ballot and I'm always one of the last ones to get them in)

Gah, submitted! Both mixed ballots, felt pretty haphazard in places, but overall I think I'm happy with what I put down.

maybe my first time voting without nomming, which was an interesting constraint

Voted without thinking about it much. Probably will regret many decisions.

I can't wait for the rollout. This year has been off to a bad start but at least I get to hear some good new music

got my album shortlist down to 46, I can do this

Asake is misspelled "Asaka" in track noms (both times)

agonizing over little points. Strong year!

fuggit. voted. thanks!

So... pretty much exactly 24 hours left, innit?

I have 26 songs that I can't make a dent in. One of the things I've hyped in here will have to miss out. I hope you all manage to forgive me

Or I could get rid of one of Mine. Gosh

Ahhh yes. Okay. Yes. Decision reached (have cut something that is neither one of Mine nor something I've hyped)

voetd!

also voted!

voted

voted!

voted!

trying to fit shortlisted into the tracks ballot as brutal as ever

i know everyone has their favs+priorities and i like too much, as opposed to not enough. so here's a few last minute things i discovered on the playlist, but needed to cut from my ballot. consider this shadow campaigning because i didn't vote for these either. they jam though, check em out!

gorgeous ― "natural high" (soft rock/harmony rock, completely stunning vocal on this one!)
the amazing ― "streetfighter" (indie guitar jams, very television reminiscent, incredible toans and big singalong chorus)
georgia ruth ― "i'm not driving" (big sigh folk rock ballad, top lyrics)
mabe fratti ― "enfrente" (baroque daw pop, this was actually the last thing to get cut from my ballot, which caused me momentary physical pain)

this is just gonna get more fun as we go and i'm here for it.

oh yeah, "bubblegum" by newjeans is totally ace. i have a feeling that one has a few fans already though!

Vetoed!

Can I send my vote tomorrow? Currently no power due to Storm Eowyn.

voted:)

meant to campaign for the Mui Zyu album, oh well

Glad you liked that Georgia Ruth song, Austin!

voted! first time in a few years i’ve been able to get one in :)

Voted!

Ok, voted! 👍🏽

Got power back and have voted

Voted

vote vote vote

It'll be interesting to see how many voters we got compared to last year. Especially in light of so many people leaving social media and finding succour in ilx

I will be on a plane at the deadline so there may be a bit more time before I can double check everything and close up shop on Saturday

Hello! I voted earlier but have subsequently been to the pub. Now I’m drunk I heartily recommend ‘Lettuce is a type of Lettuce’ to anyone trying to fill their tracks ballot.

Swiss charrrrrrrrrd.

i will be voting tonight, already know most of my picks. didn’t nom anything this year which is weird for me but hey, fun!

I voted for Lettuce is a type of Lettuce!

Voted! only put one single because honestly i didn't have a lot of time to listen to the playlist and as with most years, i tend to be an albums person.

quite a few records i would have expected on the albums list were not, but maybe my taste in jazz and punk is just a little too wild.

excited for the rollout (and for the Moin record to break the top 20 if there is a just god)

Voted. Hard to limit to 25 and 25.

Wish I had discovered Brazilian singer Luiza Brina earlier and nominated her.

with ilm being so slow i have no idea what any of you are listening to anymore and the poll is the one time of the year i get to find out. looking forward to the results

Voted! probably the first year where my tracks list only had one per artist and was hard to limit to 25.

voted!

Seeing if tt can be remotely provoked into finalising her ballot...

I'm sure she'll wake up and cobble something quickly together shortly. I've done most of the admin for her already ffs. Our ballots don't even overlap that much these days lol

Oops meant to say here - voted! Thanks to imago for adminning while I was at Friday night Magic.

Voted! I only listened to one new album this year :(

Life really got in the way this year, I was so sure I wasn't going to submit, but here I am.

trying to sneak one in over the next 15 min

managed a full album ballot but only several tracks, i tried but just needed to get it in

sorry for the delay, voting really is closed now

if a mod can lock a thread

Bit late but yep, locking now.